Spring-tire.



L. F. 152mm.

3mm TIRE. APPL'IQATXQF FILED MAR. 19, i909.

Patented Feb. 22,11910Q arising inriortant advantages in the manner andalso in the means by which the outer tire EUN ll li lmh. LEONARD F.KENNEY, OF AVOQTTIdELBAhEA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THEE!) 0. E. HEATER.

SPRING-TIRE.

Application filed March 19,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD F. KENNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Avondalc. in the county of Jefferson and State of .tlabama,have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Tires, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an ii'nprovement in cushioned tires for vehiclewheels, its object being to provide a. tire for automobiles, vehicles,bicvcles. and like machines which shall poss all of the resiliency ofthe aneumalic tire, 'while being tree from its isadvantages which is itstendency to puncture, high initial cost, and comparatively short life.

More particularly it is my object to provide a spring supportedcushiontire comin which the tire sections are assembled and protected from theentrance of dust and dirt,

elt'ectively but not positively held to its work by the springs, a rigidconnection destroying the ability of the outer rim, as a whole, to yieldand function as desired.

lily invention further comprises the details of constructimi andarrangement of parts hereinafter more particularly described andclaimed, rctm'ence being had to the accompanying ilrawiiigs, in whichFigure 1 presents a partial side elevation of a wheel provided with myimproved cushioned tire. l 9, a cross sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 1sa detail view of one of the springs. l ig. i is an enlarged longitudinalsectional view through a portion of the rim.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

The wheel, which is formally illustrated, cranpri'ses a hub l, spokes 2,and wooden telly 3, all. of which, may be of any standard construction.Over the outer periphery of the telly I fit a annular U-shaped metal riml, the side walls of which'tlare out slightly from the parallel sides ofthe folly toprovide for the reception of felt packing rings 5, the feltbeing held in place between the of the rim 4: and the telly andprojecting below the former so as to securely pack against the entranceof dirt between the rim 4 and the outer tire. This tire comprises an.outer. rim 6. which is li-shaped in cross section, the side walls ofwhich are substantially paral- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, min.

3939. Serial No. caasra.

lel and make a sliding joint with the lower edges of the rim 4- and thefelt packing 5. Normally the outer rim 6 stands with its lower edges ona level with the underface of the folly, leaving an annular clearancebetween its outer periphery and the rim 4 in which the supportingsprings 7 for the outer rim are disposed. These springs, as seen in Fig.3, are flat-springs provided with bolt openings 8 and having the outerends bent upwardly at an angle and rounded at 9. Bolts 10 secure thesprings in place, passing through the spring, the rim 4: and the telly,thereby serving to secure both the springs and the rim 4 firmly inplace. In my preferred construction I provide one spring it'oc usebetween each pair of spokes, the fastening bolts lOpassing through thefolly at a point equi-distant from the two adjacent spokes. The innerrim 6 is indented or otherwise upset to form pairs of inwardly disposedshoulders 11, which are arranged in pairs and so disposed that therounded end 9 of each spring will engage the rim 6 be tween a pair ofthese shoulders. The shoulders are spaced farther apart than the radialdistance between the bolts 10 and the rim 6 to prevent the weightfalling on the springs at the side as the outer case moves responsive tothe yielding of the lower springs at the time supporting the weight ofthe car. They, however, effectively prevent the spring working past themwhen under pressure.

The outer rim 6 is covered by an elasticor other suitable tread portion12, which is glued or otherwise secured thereon. The rim 6 one endcrimped or reduced as at 13 so as to telescope into the other end and besecured thereto by'means of screws or rivets 14:. i y

In 0perati0n,-' the springs 7 are designed so that about thirty percent. of them, which at a-time sup ort the weight on the wheel, will beot su icient strength to adequately supportsuch weight. and withdutassistance from the other s 'irings. The outer rim 6 pot beingpositively connected to the springs will yield and adjust itselfaccording to conditions, the rounded ends 9 of the springs following andbearing against the outer rim and between the pairs of shoulders formed:therein, thereby giving a positive but not? rigid push and pullconnection between the, wheel and rim 6, which will meet all of therequirements in use. The toll; packing efiectively prevents the accessof dirt and grit between the rims 4 and 6 and prevents the escape oflubricant introduced through an oil opening 15 normally closed by a plug16. The sides of the inner rim are shown tapering from the inside of thechannel. This gives an outer or hearing face parallel with the sides ofthe rim 6, which move in sliding contact therewith. The bearing surfacesof the rims are turned in a lathe or milled to give a smooth slidingbearin which is properly lubricated by the oil introduced between therims. The slanting inner walls of the sides of rim 4 give a dproperclearance for the channeling tool an as stated, provide a recess forreceiving the packing ringsbetween the rim and the telly.

The detailed construction of the parts may be variously modified withoutdeparting from the principles of. construction underlying my inventlon.

Having thus described my invention, wha

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A cushioned tire for wheels comprising in combination a wheel telly,an inner metal rim U-shapcd in cross section and adapted to fit over thetelly, flat springs connected to the outer periphery of said rim andhaving their free ends shouldered, an outer annular rim alsosubstantially U-shaped in cross section which fits over said inner rimandenga es the shouldered ends of the springs, and pairs of projections,carried by said a 3 outer run, between pairs or which the shoul deredends of the springs are disposed, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed. I

works in engagement with said packing, flat spr ngs bolted-to tne innerrim and havingtheir outer ends rounded, and inwardly disposedprojections formed in the outer rim which form bearing shoulders forengagement with the rounded ends of the springs, and an outer elastictread secured to the outer rim, substantially as described.

3. A cushioned tire for vehicles comprising in combination an annularmetallic rim, a non-metallic tread mounted thereon, pairs of inclinedshoulders on d rim which project inwardly, an inner rim. and supportingsprings carried by said latter rim and having their free ends interposedbetween pairs of said shoulders, substantially as described.

In testimony whereoi I my hand in. presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

K-ENNEY. Witnesses:

Fnsrrors Wiener, ANNIE L. Pr on.

have hereunto set

